Enhanced visibility baseball glove

ABSTRACT

Baseball gloves with enhanced visual perceivability are described. In embodiments, the baseball glove comprises a glove body having visual indicia positioned on the glove body. The visual markers on the glove body can have a substantially contrasting color to that of the glove body. The color of the visual marker can also me substantially contrasting to the anticipated physical background of the wearer of the glove. The anticipated physical background may depend on the field position of the wearer of the baseball glove. The color of the visual markers may be selected to provide the maximum contrast between the anticipated physical background and the visual markers, thereby enhancing a fielder&#39;s ability to detect the glove using his or her peripheral vision.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Summary

Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not thissummary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention areprovided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure,and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further describedbelow in the detailed-description section below. This summary is notintended to identify key features or essential features of the claimedsubject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation todetermine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In sporting activities involving catching and fielding a ball, a playeris required to track the movement of the ball and simultaneouslyperceive the edges of a fielding glove, to ensure the glove is placedproperly to catch the ball. A fielder focusing on a moving ball must usehis or her peripheral vision the see the edges of the glove. Perceivingthe edges of the glove may prove extremely difficult when a ball isbouncing and when the fielder's physical surroundings inhibits his orher ability to peripherally discern the glove in space.

Embodiments of the present invention provide baseball gloves withvisibility enhancing coloration. In various embodiments, the baseballglove may have a glove body having a particular color. In theseembodiments, visual markers may be positioned on the glove body, thevisual markers having a substantially contrasting color to that of theglove body.

Superior visibility for gloves in accordance with the present inventioncan be provided by appropriate selection of colors for various sectionsof the glove. For example, in various embodiments a baseball glove mayinclude a shell section, a web section and visual markers positioned onportions of the shell and/or web sections. The web or shell section mayinclude a front and back exterior having a spectral reflectanceassociated with a first color of a pair of enhanced-visibility colors(EVCs). The visual markers positioned on the web or shell sections mayhave a spectral reflectance associated with a second color of the EVCpair. The first color and the second color may have a spectralreflectance associated with substantially contrasting colors. Forexample, the color coordinate locations of the first color and secondcolor on the CIE 1931 color space chromaticity diagram may be spectrallyopposite with respect to the color coordinate of white light.

In addition to enhancing the visual perceivability of a glove based onthe contrast between the glove body and the visual markers positionedthereon, the visual perceivability of the glove may be improved byincreasing the contrast between the glove and the anticipated physicalbackground for viewing the glove. The color of the anticipated physicalbackground may vary based on the position of the fielder. For example,the anticipated physical background of an outfielder may involve a bluesky, grass, white clouds, domed ceiling, or stadium seating. Theanticipated physical background of an infielder may include playingsurfaces such as grass, dirt or turf. The color of the visual markersmay be selected to provide the maximum contrast between the anticipatedphysical background and the visual markers, thereby enhancing afielder's ability to detect the glove using his or her peripheralvision.

In further illustrative aspects, the placement of the visual markers onthe glove body is determined by the fielding position of the wearer. Forexample, an outfielder's glove may include visual markers along thethumb and middle fingers of the back surface of the shell section of theglove. A shortstop's glove may include visual markers along the thumband middle fingers of the front surface of the shell section of theglove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which areincorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a rear elevation view of a baseball glove with enhancedvisual perceivability embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a front elevation view of a baseball glove with enhancedvisual perceivability embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts another front elevation view of a baseball glove withenhanced visual perceivability, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 depicts yet another front elevation view of a baseball glove withenhanced visual perceivability, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a CIE chromaticity diagram illustrating selectionof enhanced-visibility colors; and

FIG. 6 is a another diagram of a CIE chromaticity diagram illustratingselection of enhanced-visibility colors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the present invention is described withspecificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, thedescription itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofclaims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in otherways to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to theones described in this document, in conjunction with other present orfuture technologies. Although the terms “step” and/or “block” or“module” etc. might be used herein to connote different components ofmethods or systems employed, the terms should not be interpreted asimplying any particular order among or between various steps hereindisclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps isexplicitly described.

Embodiments of the present invention provide baseball gloves withenhanced visual perceivability to enable a wearer to more clearly seethe edges of the baseball glove in his or her peripheral field ofvision. While embodiments discussed herein refer to baseball gloves, itwill be understood that embodiments are not limited to any particularstyle or type of fielding glove. For example, other embodiments mayinclude infielder gloves, outfielder gloves, catcher's mitts, softballgloves, cricket gloves and the like with enhanced visual perceivability.

Visual perceivability generally refers to the spatial resolving capacityof the visual system. A number of factors may be associated withimproved perception including an objects reflectance, illumination, andcontrast. Reflectance refers to the ratio of the total amount of lightreflected by a surface relative to the total amount of light incident onthe surface of the object. An objects illumination is the total amountof visible light incident upon a point on the surface of the object fromall directions above the surface. Contrast refers to the degree ofdifference between the colors and/or luminance between visual zones.Varying the reflectance, illumination and contrast of an object mayprovide visual stimuli that may increase the visual system's ability todiscern the object and its orientation and position in space. Forcentral vision or peripheral vision, luminance, contrast and objectdetail can be used to provide an appropriate visual stimulus. Luminancedescribes the amount of light leaving an objects surface in a particulardirection, and can be thought of as the measured brightness of a surfaceas seen by the eye. For central vision, an object's colorcharacteristics can be used as a visual stimulus. Color characteristicscan be used for peripheral vision as well but generally tend to besomewhat less effective due to reduced peripheral color sensitivity. Assuch, visual stimuli based on reflectance and contrast typically providesuperior results for increased visual perceivability. Visual stimuli canbe provided using texture, color, gray level, patterning, surfacereflectivity, fluorescence, iridescence, or other visually observablesurface properties.

Embodiments of the present invention provide baseball gloves havingincreased visual perceivability via visibility enhancing coloration andthe placement of visual markers/indicia along various sections of theglove. In various embodiments, the baseball glove may have a glove bodyhaving a particular color. In these embodiments, visual indicia may bepositioned on the glove body, the visual markers having a substantiallycontrasting color and/or luminance to that of the glove body. The visualperceivability of the glove may also be improved by increasing thecontrast between the glove and the anticipated physical background forviewing the glove. The method for selecting colors for the glove bodyand visual markers positioned on the baseball glove is similar to theprocedure for preparing enhanced visibility sporting equipment detailedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/770,862, entitled “CHROMATICARCHITECTURE FOR SPORTS EQUIPMENT” the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the presentinvention, an exemplary baseball glove with enhanced visualperceivability is described below.

Referring to the drawings in general and FIGS. 1-4 in particular, anexemplary baseball glove with enhanced visual perceivability is depictedin various views. Throughout this specification, as previously stated,the term baseball glove is intended to include various types of fieldinggloves including, but not limited to, catcher's mitts, softball glovesand the like. The depictions in the drawings are for exemplary purposesonly and are in no way meant to limit the scope of the present inventionto any particular type of fielding glove or any particular gloveconfiguration. Further, the materials used to create the baseball gloveswith enhanced visual perceivability, as well as the material propertiesof the paint or dye used to color the visual markers on the gloves arewell known in the art and will not be discussed in further detailherein.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a rear view of a baseball glove with enhancedvisual perceivability, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated and designated generally as reference numeral100. Baseball glove 100 includes a web region 102, a fingerstall region104, laces 106, a heel region 108, a thumb visual marker 110, a fingervisual marker 112, webbing 114, a web bridge 116, a thumb region 118 andan exterior back surface 120. Baseball glove 100 can be any type ofmaterial for use in a fielding glove including leather and syntheticmaterials such as vinyl or plastic. On the exterior 120 of baseballglove 100 are visual indicia 110 and 112. Visual indicia 110 and 112 canbe any type of material for use in a sporting glove and may be placed onexterior 120 by painting, stitching, gluing, RF welding, ultrasonicwelding, or any other technique.

Exterior 102 can be dyed, coated, constructed of appropriately coloredmaterials, or otherwise colored using various spectral reflectances tobe peripherally noticeable to players when the baseball glove is in use.The dye, coating, or other coloring may include various combinations,including, but not limited to, a combination of a tan, black or brownexterior 102 with, a combination of substantially contrasting colors,and/or a combination of colors with specific spectral properties forincreased visibility for the visual indicia 110 and 112. Luminance mayalso be important to the visibility of the sporting glove. Luminance maybe particularly important when the sporting glove is used at night,under stadium lights. By way of example, without limitation, variousembodiments of the present invention may include a dark glove body thatreflects less light than one or more light visual indicia positioned onthe glove body such that the luminance of the sporting glove remainshigh.

Examples of color selections that may be used in accordance with thepresent invention are described in detail below in conjunction withFIGS. 5-6, although other color combinations beyond those described maybe used. Various color combinations are contemplated and within thescope of the present invention and, therefore, embodiments of thepresent invention are not limited to a particular color scheme. Invarious embodiments, the baseball glove will contain generally twocolors, a dark color and a light color. Additional colors may, however,be used for graphics (for example identifying the manufacturer of theglove, the league using or authorizing the glove, etc.). Moreover, morethan two colors may be used to enhance the visibility of a glove inaccordance with the present invention.

In addition to the enhancing the visibility of baseball glove 100 basedon the color contrast of exterior 120 with visual indicia 110 and 112,the placement of visual indicia 110 and 112 may increase a fielder'sability to perceive the glove. The placement of the visual indicia 110and 112 on the baseball glove 100 may be determined by the fieldingposition of the wearer. Outfielders attempting to catch fly balls overthe waist typically have their gloved hand pointed up with the webbridge 116 pointing upward. A fielder attempting to catch a ball rightat the waist may crouch down with the glove pointed up. An infielder mayalso catch pop-up balls with his or her gloved hand pointed up. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, a fielder's glove may have a visual indicator 110on the thumb region 118 of the exterior surface 120 of the glove. Theplacement of indicator 110 may increase the fielder's ability to detectthe outer-edge of the web section 102 when the fielder is looking upwardat a fly or popup ball. Visual indicator 112 may be positioned on thefingerstall section 104 of the glove 100, and increase the wearersability to detect the center of the glove pocket (not shown) whenattempting to catch a fly or popup ball. Visual indicator 112 may beplaced on the index finger or middle finger of the fingerstall section104.

A fielder attempting to catch a ball below the waist, typically pointshis or her gloved hand downward with the palm facing the approachingball. Accordingly, a baseball glove with visual markers on the exteriorpalm surface of the glove may increase a players ability to peripherallyperceive the glove. Turning now to FIG. 2, a front view of a baseballglove with enhanced visual perceivability embodying features of thepresent invention is illustrated and designated generally as referencenumber 200. Baseball glove 200 includes a fingerstall region 202, webregion 204, an exterior front surface 206, a heel region 208, a thumbvisual marker 210, a finger visual marker 212, and a pocket region 214,and a thumb stall region 216. The combination of fingerstall region 202,heel region 208, pocket region 214, and thumb stall region 216 may begenerally referred to as the shell section of the baseball glove. Visualindicia 210 and 212 may be position on exterior surface 206 on eitherside of web region 204. In particular, indicia 210 and 212 may be placedalong the thumb and middle fingers of the front surface of glove 200.Visual indicia 210 and 212 may increase a fielder's ability to perceivethe baseball receiving pocket region 214 of glove 200 when catching aball.

In FIG. 3 a front view of a baseball glove with enhanced visualperceivability, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated and designated generally as reference number300. Baseball glove 300 includes a fingerstall region 302, web region304, visual indicia 306, 308, 310 and 312 and an exterior front surface314. Visual markers 306 and 310 may be placed respectively along thethumb and pinkie edges of baseball glove 300. Marker 308 may bepositioned on the periphery of the heel region of glove 300. Marker 312may be located along the top edges of fingerstall region 302 and webregion 304. Baseball gloves as illustrated in FIG. 3 may increase afielder's ability to peripherally perceive the glove when catching aball with the glove 300 in a downward position. Additionally, indicia306, 308, 310 and 312 may increase a fielder's ability to perceive theglove when fielding a ground ball. Visual indicia 308, 308, 310 and 312may be of a substantially contrasting color from the exterior surface314. This visibility enhancing coloration may increase a fielder'sability to discern the periphery of the glove while focusing on a movingball.

Turning now to FIG. 4, yet another front view of a baseball glove withenhanced visual perceivability, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated and designated generally as referencenumber 400. Baseball glove 400 includes a fingerstall region 402, webregion 404, visual indicia 406, 408, 410 and 412, an exterior frontsurface 414 and a heel region 416. Visual indicia 408 and 410 may bepositioned on exterior surface 414 on either side of web region 404. Inparticular, indicia 408 and 410 may be placed along the thumb andmiddle/index fingers of the front surface of glove 400. Visual marker406 may enhance the visibility of the top of glove 400 by highlightingthe top edges of fingerstall region 402 and web region 404. Marker 412may highlight the heel region of glove 400. By way of example, glove 400may be used in various infielder positions such as first base, secondbase, third base and the shortstop positions. Glove 400 may beparticularly useful when catching balls below the waist of the fielderand for fielding ground balls.

A substantial contrast between the colors of the glove body and thevisual indicia can make the glove easier to detect in a player'speripheral field of vision. Visual indicia colors associated withenhanced visibility can be selected to be substantially spectrallyopposite or contrasting as shown on a CIE 1931 color space chromaticitydiagram. Selection of opposite colors for a visual marker and glove bodycan offer significant visual contrast. The visual contrast of the glovecan be further enhanced by associating the glove body and visual markerswith contrasting luminance values.

Furthermore, selection of contrasting indicia/glove body colors canprovide aesthetically superior visual appearance of, for example, abaseball glove or other item. In addition, selection of thesecontrasting colors can be based on the anticipated physical backgroundfor viewing the glove. The color of the anticipated physical backgroundmay vary based on the position of the fielder. For example, theanticipated physical background of an outfielder may involve a blue sky,grass, white clouds, domed ceiling, or stadium seating. Accordingly, fora high visibility baseball glove that is to be used in the outfield,colors of the visual indicia are preferably selected to enhance mutualcontrast between the glove body and the visual indicia plus the contrastbetween the visual indicia and the blue sky, grass, white clouds, domedceiling, or stadium seating. The anticipated physical background of aninfielder may include playing surfaces such as grass, dirt or turf.Accordingly, for a high visibility baseball glove that is to be used inthe infield, colors of the visual indicia are preferably selected toenhance the contrast between the visual indicia and the playing surface.In other examples, contrast based on a different background such as bluesky, cloud cover, stadium seating, or other immediate surrounding to aplaying surface such as trees, playground structures, or spectatorclothing can be selected.

A representative selection of visibility-enhancing coloration for a CIE1931 chromaticity diagram based on selection of enhanced-visibilitycontrasting colors is illustrated in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5,spectral references 514 and 516 are associated with surface areas thatappear tan and blue, respectively. Contrasting colors for the visualindicia and glove body can have CIE X-Y coordinate locations that arewidely separated and opposite with respect to the location of a standardwhite illuminant on a CIE plot. For reference, a location 512 of astandard white (sunlight or illuminate D65) is also shown. The CIEZ-coordinate that is associated with luminance is not shown on thechromaticity diagram 500. The coordinate locations 514 and 516 arewidely separated and opposite with respect to a location 512 associatedwith white illumination, but in other examples, colors associated withcolor coordinates that are not opposite with respect to the location 512may be used. As shown in FIG. 5, blue visual indicia at coordinatelocation 516 are spectrally opposite to a tan glove body at coordinatelocation 514. Thus, blue visual indicia can offer significant visualcontrast and render the glove discernable in a fielder's peripheralfield of vision. A blue and tan contrasting indicia/glove body baseballglove may not be appropriate for outfielders that typically catch flyballs with a blue sky as a visual background. However, a blue and tanhigh visibility glove may be desirable for infielders who typicallycatch ground balls with the dirt of the infield as a visual background.Additional representative examples of substantially contrasting spectralreflectance pairs include magenta and green, cyan and red, as well asadditional blue/yellow combinations.

Another representative selection of visibility-enhancing coloration fora CIE chromaticity diagram based on selection of enhanced-visibilitycontrasting colors is illustrated in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6,spectral reference 614 is associated with a blue visual background suchas a blue sky. Spectral reference 616 is associated with visual indiciathat appear magenta. Contrasting colors for the visual indicia and glovebody can have CIE X-Y coordinate locations that are widely separatedwith respect to the location of a standard white illuminant on a CIEplot. For reference, a location 612 of a standard white (sunlight orilluminate D65) is also shown. The CIE Z-coordinate that is associatedwith luminance is not shown on the chromaticity diagram 600. Thecoordinate locations 614 and 616 are widely separated with respect to alocation 612 associated with white illumination, but in other examples,colors associated with color coordinates that are not opposite withrespect to the location 612 may be used. As shown in FIG. 6, magentavisual indicia at coordinate location 616 are spectrally separated to ablue visual background at coordinate location 614. Thus, magenta visualindicia can offer significant visual contrast and render a glovediscernable in a fielder's peripheral field of vision where the fielderis facing a blue visual background. Magenta visual indicia are alsospectrally separated from the tan color of the glove body, rendering theincreased visual contrast between the indicia and the glove body.Accordingly, a glove having magenta visual indicia may be desirable foroutfielders that typically catch fly balls with a blue sky as a visualbackground.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intentto be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from itsscope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementingthe aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Notall steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in thespecific order described.

1. A baseball glove with visibility-enhancing coloration, the baseballglove comprising: a shell section; a web section; and one or more visualindicia positioned on at least one of the shell section and the websection, the one or more visual indicia having a color that differs fromcolors of the shell section and the web section, wherein the colors ofthe shell section, web section and visual indicia are based on a colorcontrast of the visual indicia relative to the shell and web sections.2. The baseball glove of claim 1, wherein the shell section and the websection are a first color, and wherein the one or more visual indicia isa second color.
 3. The baseball glove of claim 2, wherein the firstcolor and the second color are substantially contrasting.
 4. Thebaseball glove of claim 3, wherein the first color and the second colorare spectrally opposite with respect to a color coordinate locationassociated with white illumination.
 5. The baseball glove of claim 3wherein the first color and the second color are associated with aluminance contrast of greater than about 50%.
 6. The baseball glove ofclaim 3, wherein the first color is substantially yellow and the secondcolor is substantially blue.
 7. The baseball glove of claim 3, whereinthe first color and the second color are spectrally opposite withrespect to a color coordinate location associated with whiteillumination and wherein the first color and second color are spectrallyopposite with respect to a color coordinate location of a colorassociated with an anticipated physical background of a wearer of thebaseball glove.
 8. A baseball glove with enhanced visual perceivabilityto enable a wearer to more clearly see the baseball glove in theperiphery of the field of vision of the wearer, the baseball glovecomprising: a glove body having a finger stall region, a thumb region, aweb region, a heel region and a pocket region; and one or more visualindicia positioned on the glove body, the one or more visual indiciahaving a color that differs from the color of the glove body, wherein acolor contrast between the one or more visual indicia and the glove bodyenhances an ability of the wearer to perceive the glove body viaperipheral vision, wherein the placement of the visual indicia on theglove body depends upon one or more visual cues that are received by thewearer.
 9. The baseball glove of claim 8, wherein the color of the oneor more visual indicia is based on the color contrast of the visualindicia relative to the anticipated physical background of the wearerwhen fielding a ball.
 10. The baseball glove of claim 8, wherein theglove body is a first color, and wherein the one or more visual indiciais a second color.
 11. The baseball glove of claim 10, wherein the firstcolor and the second color are substantially contrasting.
 12. Thebaseball glove of claim 8, wherein the one or more visual cues that arereceived by the wearer depend upon the fielding position of the wearerof the baseball glove.
 13. The baseball glove of claim 9, wherein theanticipated physical background includes at least one of an immediatesurrounding to a playing surface, dirt, grass, a blue sky, stadiumseating, and turf.
 14. The baseball glove of claim 8, wherein theplacement of the visual indicia includes placing the visual indicia on aback exterior surface of the baseball glove.
 15. The baseball glove ofclaim 14, wherein the placement of the visual indicia includes placingthe visual indicia along an edge of the thumb region and along a middlefinger of the finger stall region.
 16. The baseball glove of claim 8,wherein the placement of the visual indicia includes placing the visualindicia on a palm exterior surface of the baseball glove.
 17. Thebaseball glove of claim 16, wherein the placement of the visual indiciaincludes placing the visual indicia along an edge of the thumb regionand along a middle finger of the finger stall region.
 18. The baseballglove of claim 8, wherein the placement of the visual indicia includesplacing the visual indicia on a palm exterior surface of the baseballglove, along an edge of the thumb region, along a pinkie edge of thefinger stall region, along a top edge of the web and finger stall regionand along an edge of the heel region.
 19. A baseball glove withvisibility-enhancing coloration to enable a wearer to more clearly seethe edges of the sporting glove in the periphery of the field of visionof the wearer, the sporting glove comprising: a glove body having afirst color; one or more visual indicia positioned on the glove body,the one or more visual indicia having a second color that differs fromthe color of the glove body, wherein the first color and the secondcolor are substantially contrasting and spectrally opposite with respectto a color coordinate location associated with white illumination. 20.The baseball glove of claim 19, wherein the first color is substantiallyyellow and the second color is substantially magenta.